Daddy's Girl

'Daddy's Girl' is short film project produced as a result of the FRESH30 program with the New Zealand Film Commission. We are fundraising to cover APRA licensing fees for the Music we have used in this short film and festival submission fees.

Production, editing and grading of this short film is complete and almost ready to submit to New Zealand festivals, however the music licensing fees are preventing the film from being released. Your contribution will mean this project can be officially signed off and available for the world to see.

A BIT ABOUT THE SHORT

Daddy's Girl is a short film written and directed by Cian Elyse White of Waiti Productions and produced by Tweedie Waititi of Kokko Media.

Te Puhi prepares herself for the toughest day of her life. Her father, Tui prepares a kai for his girl. The two share a traditional meal when the harsh reality of her fathers dementia forces Te Puhi to face the painful truth that she must let go of the most important person in her life- her daddy.

Daddy's Girl is a story about the powerful love between a father and his daughter and the ability for that love to remain, even when all else seems lost.

WHO MADE IT

Cian Elyse White - Wait? Productions | Writer & Director

Cian Elyse is an award winning Writer and Director who hails from the tribe most famous for storytelling, Te Arawa. As a speaker of Te Reo, Cian's vision is to share the beauty of the Māori language and the principles of the culture to the world.

DADDY'S GIRL is Cian's debut as a Director for screen, however she has been involved in the theatre, film and television world professionally for a decade. A graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, Cian's awareness of character arch, emotional journey and story trajectory is strong therefore 'directing' is yet another step in her love for storytelling.

Tweedie Waititi - Kokko Media | Producer

Tweedie is most well known for producing the first ever Reo Māori Disney film in 2017, 'Moana Reo Māori', however she has worked on many projects whose core focus is the celebration of Te Reo Māori. Her motivation is to take Te Reo Māori into homes, and into the hearts and minds of our tamariki mokopuna.

Fred Renata | Director of Photography

Fred is one of New Zealand's most distinguished cinematographers. His work as a director of photography has taken him to all corners of the globe. After a career in electrical engineering, he moved into filmmaking, joining the lighting department on Merata Mita's 1987 feature, Mauri. He has since shot some of New Zealand's most important Māori-centric films: Herbs - Songs of Freedom (2019), Poi E: The Story of our Song (2016), Mt Zion (2012), Let My Whakapapa Speak (2008), Hīkoi (1994) Hotere (2001) and many more. 

Annie Collins | Editor

Annie Collins has been editing film since 1975 and was the first independently trained editor in the country. Annie worked on the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and won awards for her editing work on Scarfies, Out of the Blue and Two Little Boys. More recently, she cut Tusi Tamasese's Academy Award nominated feature One Thousand Ropes. Annie also has an extensive resume of documentaries, having edited such landmark productions as Patu! and The Neglected Miracle.